Electric coupling for train-telegraphs



(No Model.)

B. D. PARKER.

ELECTRIC COUPLING FOR TRAIN TELEGRAPHS.

Patented Feb. 7,1882.

\ INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD D. PARKER, OF SALINA, KANSAS.

ELECTRIC COUPLING FOR TRAlN-TELEGRAPHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,419, dated February '7, 1882.

Application filed June 11, 1881.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD D. PARKER, of Salina, in the county of Saline and State of Kansas, have invented a new and Improved Electric Coupling for Train-Telegraphs, of which the following is a specification.

The object of myim'ention is to provide railroad-trains with means for signaling from the cars to the engine, in place of the rope ordinarily used.

Theinvention consists in circuit-closingcouplin gs by which the cord is connected between the cars, all as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a locomotive and portions of the front and rear cars of a train litted with my improved devices. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of thecoupling-block. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section in a plane at right angles to Fig.2. Fig. 4 is an end view of the coupling-block, and Fig. 5 a side view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to Fig. 1, A is the locomotive, B the tender, and (J parts of the front and rear cars ofa train,which may consist of any number of cars in addition, either passenger or freight trains.

Beneath the locomotivecab is a battery, D, consisting of a suitable number of cells of the type known as sealed batteries. The cab also contains an electric bell, E, of ordinary construction, which is in connection with the wires a of a circuit from the battery. The wires a of the electric circuit extend beneath the ten der B and cars 0 to the rear car, where the ends will be connected. The wires a are incased in a covering of wood, by which the wires areinsulated and protected from injury. In each car of the train there are wires 0 d, thatv are connected to the main wires a, so as to form loops therefrom, and in these loops there are circuit-closers e, which are all to be closed in all except the rear car of the train, in which they are to be left open and press-buttons l placedatconvenientplaces. Thecircuit-closer on the locomotive is for the purpose of breaking the circuit when the locomotive is not in use.

The coupling devices between the cars, by

(No model.)

which the wires are coupled, are applied in connection with the wooden covering of the wire, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. fin those figures is the covering, containing wires to a. The covering is a cylinder formed in two portions attached together, the line of division being lengthwise for convenience of placing the wire. The end of the cylinder is hollowed out and fitted with a projecting tongue, 9, of wood or other non-conducting material, the outer end of which is of wedge form. Each wire a terminates with a short spring-metal strip, h, and a separate andlonger strip,z'. The longer strips t extend upon opposite sides of the tongue 9, and are retained out of contact by the tongue,while the shorter springs '10 are bent into contact, thereby forming a springjaw that normally connects the wires a. The tongues g and springs h are so placed that when the ends of two sections are brought toget-her thetongues of one section pass between the springs h of the other section, thus separating them. At the same time the stripsi come into contact with the corresponding springs, h, and thus establish metallic continuity of the wires aa. With these arrangements the electric bell on the locomotive will be operated from either car of the train by movement of the circuit-closers or press-buttons.

In case the train is separated by breaking of the car-couplings the coupling devices of the electric cord will draw apart, and the springs 2 then coming together, will close the circuit and the bell will be operated. This provision for automatically giving an alarm when the couplings separate is especially adapted for use on freight-trains.

When the engines litted with my device are not in use the switches should be left open. When the circuit is closed the engine-bell will ring continuously and the battery material be quickly used up.

I do not limit myself to the special arrangement and relativelocation of thedevices shown and described, as they may be varied within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention,I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- In an electric apparatus for signaling on trains, the combinatiomwith the electric wires a a, of the coupling formed with the springs the plates z i being separated from each other h h, plates ii,andt0ngues g g, of non-conductat all times, substantially as shown and deing material, said plates '5 and springs h being scribed.

integral and attached to the Wires a, where- EDWARD DERIAS PARKER. 5 by, when the coupling is detached, the circuit 1 Witnesses:

is closed through thesprings hh,when coupled U. S. CONRAD,

electric continuity of the line-wires is secured, J. B, WHlTEHEAD. 

